just wondering about bags for kids...

[CampbellScot]

but my questions were answered...so thanks anyhow

 

[Disney-For-Life]

Hubby and I either use Camelbacks or lightweight mesh bags (the ones that have 2 strings to carry "backpack" style). The Camelbacks are great because you can remove the water bag insert and tubing, giving you more room to carrry stuff, but even so, there would be lots of room for autograph books and other items. If you did use the hydration feature, at least you wouldn't be worried about your kids being thirsty (despite your wicked step-mother title!). On the other hand, the mesh bags would be cheaper and less bulky - especially if you were in position where you had to stuff them in your own bag...which wouldn't happen, right? The mesh style bags (or cloth versions) can be found lots of places - including brand name clothing stores (as they are usually the cheapest style bag you can buy at some places while still toting a brand name logo). Good Luck!

 

[meandtheguys2]

My boys used their gameboy "fanny packs." On the small side. Large enough for pins, autograph books, and any other trinkets or treasures found along the way.

Also big enough for a disposable camera. They loved carying those, and getting their own pics.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Hi all!! We are heading to the World in August and this time my step kids are coming along...due the fact that I am extremely Wicked in the Step mothering arena AND my s-kids are going to be 8 and 5...I feel they should pack their own dang autograph books around! So does anyone have any suggestions for kid friendly bags that are light weight, not backpacks (too HOT in August for BP's and this would lead to whining and possibly the death of one or both children...I'm wicked like I said...don't judge... ) Just something they can carry easily that would fit an autograph book and a pen and maybe a trinket or two? We will rent a double stroller b/c as I mentioned before, whining of any kind could be deadly and WDW is a LOT of walking and Hey, I might need a ride myself!

These are kids that pretty overindulged in at least one half of their life and they have this aversion to "carrying" anything. This aversion makes me nuts and I'm tackling it NOW so when it's time for Disney we won't be all shocked at having responsibility of our own...

SO to recap...smallish, not too bulky or backpacky...manageable for kids.

thanks y'all!!!

Poor babies, your post is kinda mean. These type of post always bother me since my son has to deal with a stepmother. Luckily the two of them have always gotten along great.

Anyway to answer your question. My son has always used the nylon, drawstring backpacks in the parks. They hold all of his stuff and aren't hot at all.

If you can't find a bag that will work or that they are willing to carry, just have their dad play pack mule for the week.

 

[meandtheguys2]

Poor babies, your post is kinda mean. These type of post always bother me since my son has to deal with a stepmother. Luckily the two of them have always gotten along great.

Anyway to answer your question. My son has always used the nylon, drawstring backpacks in the parks. They hold all of his stuff and aren't hot at all.

If you can't find a bag that will work or that they are willing to carry, just have their dad play pack mule for the week.

I had a true wicked step-mom, so they bother me a bit too. Luckily that ended and for the last 20 years (as an adult) I've had a dear!

Ditto the dad playing pack-mule...

 

[disney's daughter]

My grandchildren, three girls and one boy always wear fanny packs at Disney..and it works out just fine....

 

[sarahc]

My grandchildren, three girls and one boy always wear fanny packs at Disney..and it works out just fine....

If you put a couple of snacks/treats inside these, they might be more inclined to wear one and can also eat when they feel hungry instead of hassling you.

 

[disney's daughter]

That's right...besides having their own disposable camera, autograph book and pen, they also have snacks in their fanny packs....Makes a huge difference....My daughter in law actually bought the fanny packs at Disney...but, you can get them cheaper at the discount stores in your home town...The kids were really excited about having their "own stuff" "on them"......

 

[kimis]

Fanny packs work out great. However you will want to watch to make sure they don't leave them behind anywhere. Isn't that what a mom does. I am a mom and grandma and I have never minded carrying things for the children. Your attitude that came through in the question is kinda scarey to me. I hope between now and August you grow to love your step kids in a more motherly way. Enjoy

 

[CampbellScot]

Wow, I hope y'all know that my "Wicked Stepmother" title is a bit of a joke. My stepkids adore me, if I do say so myself. And I adore them. I had a wicked step mother myself as a child and I will NOT being recreating that environment! Their mom and I talk frequently and she recently thanked me for being so great to her kids! They ARE great kids, and naturally very sweet, but their grandparents spoil them so rotten it goes beyond being a "grandparent" thing. It's nearly criminal. My step son goes from being a very well behaved boy who is sweet and loving to a kid who throws a POOL BALL at his sister's head (which landed her in the ER with 4 stitches) when he is at grandparents...when ask WHY he did this as I was quite shocked, his reponse was "Because at Grandpa's I can do whatever I want". He wasn't even mad. He is just agressive when he is there b/c he can be. no consequences to speak of. He is a rowdy boy in general, and allowing it go unchecked ends in bloodshed!

They are the only grandkids in a huge Italian family and despite their mom trying to get her family to tone it down, these kids have been raised to believe that they are the center of the universe at all times. This is not reality and I'm not doing them any favors to allow that to go on. So...I'm going to require them to have some responsibility for themselves by carrying their own bag! I'm also going to require them earn their own spending money for the trip! I know...I'm wicked.

thanks for the suggestions...the mesh bags are a good idea. I don't want them to be uncomfortable...despite my wickedness...but I'm already going to be carrying 84,000 things...I don't want to have start whining myself!

I don't know about y'all, but when I'm at Disneyworld and I see kids screaming at their parents, demanding this and that, having tantrums in general and the parents are rushing around trying to appease the fits, it makes me sick. We live in a society that allows children to do and say as they please with no fear of a consequence. It is more evident at Disney it seems than anywhere else I've been. We need to turn this around, start requiring manners and personal responsibility as soon as they kids can sit up on their own!

okay, public service announcement over...I'm not that wicked...

 

[meandtheguys2]

okay, public service announcement over...I'm not that wicked...

I'm glad! Good luck! Keep thinking about making your hunny carry the stuff...

 

[CampbellScot]

Fanny packs work out great. However you will want to watch to make sure they don't leave them behind anywhere. Isn't that what a mom does. I am a mom and grandma and I have never minded carrying things for the children. Your attitude that came through in the question is kinda scarey to me. I hope between now and August you grow to love your step kids in a more motherly way. Enjoy

My "attitude" was a joke as I said before...of course I don't mind carrying things for them, or feeding them whenever they ask for something, making sure they are hydrated at all times and covered in sun screen, I make sure that their food doesn't "touch" on the plate b/c they hate that. I do my step daughters hair in just the way she likes. I do all the things their mom does and "just as good a mom" I was told this morning by my step son who thinks this is a massive compliment.

Being a step parent is extremely difficult on the best days. If you aren't a step parent, you have no idea. You have to keep your humor about you at all times and you to have avoid allowing your step kids to take advantage of you, which is easy when you want to over indulge so they "like" you. I'm not sure why it would be a big deal to require your kids to have some responsibility for themselves. We are raising future adults here. Not giving them the idea that they can do things for themselves from time to time is handicapping them.

don't judge me if you haven't been in my shoes. I would have hoped people could see I was being sarcastic... see like that.

for those of you who got it...thanks!

 

[meandtheguys2]

CampbellScot, IMO, don't sweat it. Just like in real life, everyone brings their own "stuff" to this board. As a kid of a (wicked) step, I'm sure you get that. Good for you for caring enough to not just give-in to unacceptable behaviors!

 

[CampbellScot]

CampbellScot, IMO, don't sweat it. Just like in real life, everyone brings their own "stuff" to this board. As a kid of a (wicked) step, I'm sure you get that. Good for you for caring enough to not just give-in to unacceptable behaviors!

Thanks...I was just sitting here STEWING over the whole thing and felt the need to come back and point out that it was MY idea to book the Beach club b/c the kids so love the beach and playing in the pool and there is nothing better than Stormalong bay...My Dh wanted POFQ! And I booked a Princess Tea for my step daughter and myself...I'll over indulge with the best of them, all that I ask is that they chew with their mouths shut, say please and thank you and carry their own autograph books...sheesh...

Obviously I carry my own personal baggage about step parenting...it rubbed me the wrong way to have *ahem* "REAL" moms suggest that I wasn't loving to my step kids b/c I required them to be responsible and not whine. Whining is NEVER necessary...talk to me in a normal voice please, tell me what you need and you'll get it, just don't whine about it.

 

[marthachick]

...it rubbed me the wrong way to have *ahem* "REAL" moms suggest that I wasn't loving to my step kids b/c I required them to be responsible and not whine. Whining is NEVER necessary...talk to me in a normal voice please, tell me what you need and you'll get it, just don't whine about it.

I'm a "real" mom (whatever that is) and I just think you are teaching your kids responsibility. Not that you are a wicked step mom. When we went, we took a gym bag & all took turns carrying it. And yes DS carried it his part & lived to tell about it! It's your vacation too so you shouldn't be the "pack mule" for the whole crowd.

Also, can't stand the whining thing. DS learned at an early age that you get nowhere with DM if you whine!

Have fun & have everyone carrying their stuff or tell them to leave it at home!

 

[Sammy]

LOL...I must be a wicked "real" mom because I make my kids carry all their own stuff in the parks. If you want to bring it with you, you need to carry it! I'm not above hanging onto the extra water bottle or stuffing a small souvenir bag into my own bag, but the autograph book/pen, pressed pennies, sunglasses, etc. need to fit into their own fanny packs/bagallini.

Like another poster said though....its easy enough for them to take off the fanny packs (especially for trips to the bathroom), and forget to put them back on. DS forgot his Buzz Lightyear fanny pack in a bathroom in MGM. Luckily, we realized it quickly and was able to retrieve it before someone else walked away with it.

I found smaller fanny packs in the kids section of Walmart. I was even able to find Disney themed ones, although this was a few years ago.

Sammy

 

[kissy]

Hi all!! We are heading to the World in August and this time my step kids are coming along...due the fact that I am extremely Wicked in the Step mothering arena AND my s-kids are going to be 8 and 5...I feel they should pack their own dang autograph books around! So does anyone have any suggestions for kid friendly bags that are light weight, not backpacks (too HOT in August for BP's and this would lead to whining and possibly the death of one or both children...I'm wicked like I said...don't judge... ) Just something they can carry easily that would fit an autograph book and a pen and maybe a trinket or two? We will rent a double stroller b/c as I mentioned before, whining of any kind could be deadly and WDW is a LOT of walking and Hey, I might need a ride myself!

These are kids that pretty overindulged in at least one half of their life and they have this aversion to "carrying" anything. This aversion makes me nuts and I'm tackling it NOW so when it's time for Disney we won't be all shocked at having responsibility of our own...

SO to recap...smallish, not too bulky or backpacky...manageable for kids.

thanks y'all!!!

Even though everyone has posted about the bags, I had to add that I too had a "wicked step mother" She is the most amazing woman and I love her dearly. We have joked around (since I was about 12) how she was going to make me polish the silver, vaccum, etc. For my 13th birthday she even gave me a jewelry box that said "To Christen Love your Wicked Step Mother" I'm 30 and still have it....So....I found what you said endearing!

Well and I guess I can say that for the bag thing, DH and I have one backpack that we take everywhere with us...We had a 2 year old in a stroller so it wasn't a big deal to just shove it in the basket underneath. Since you don't have that I guess I would recommend the little fanny packs too!

 

[CampbellScot]

Even though everyone has posted about the bags, I had to add that I too had a "wicked step mother" She is the most amazing woman and I love her dearly. We have joked around (since I was about 12) how she was going to make me polish the silver, vaccum, etc. For my 13th birthday she even gave me a jewelry box that said "To Christen Love your Wicked Step Mother" I'm 30 and still have it....So....I found what you said endearing!

Well and I guess I can say that for the bag thing, DH and I have one backpack that we take everywhere with us...We had a 2 year old in a stroller so it wasn't a big deal to just shove it in the basket underneath. Since you don't have that I guess I would recommend the little fanny packs too!

That is really nice to hear actually. Thank you Kissy!! I hope and pray that my step kids will look back on what I know has been a tough thing...at least my step daughter who remembers when mom and dad lived together, and see how much I loved them and how hard I tried to be a good step parent and not some useless lump who just happened to be married to their dad. wow...seriously getting choked up here... As an adult I can look back at my own step mother and see how hard it must have been for her. She did the best she could and my big sister was about as Wicked as a step kid could get. She held upu fantastically well and I've grown to love and respect her very much.

we tease a lot too about the Wicked Step mother thing...we are disney freaks in this house and so the theme of Wicked step mother is well known. When my step kids want to know why they can't have things like Brownies and cookies for breakfast...I always reply "Because I'm your Wicked Step mother mother of course and I have to be wicked!" This always brings laughter and more teasing about mopping the floor and bringing me breakfast in bed. They got me a sleep shirt for Christmas with the Wicked Queen on it and my step daughter said it was b/c "She is the beautifulest step mom like YOU and plus you aren't really mean like she is!!" See...being wicked does NOT equal being an ugly old hag! Anybody can be ugly...not everyone can manage to be beautiful AND Wicked! And I DO know a good woodsman...in case there is any whining...

OH and we are going to rent a double stroller, but I would worry leaving their personal things on it when we go on rides...hence the carrying their treasures...

Thanks Sammy, for the Wally World tip!!! I will definitely check that out...fanny packs will probably be the least intrusive thing to carry.

 

[kimis]

Well what can I say? We all assumed you were serious about your "wickedness" but no where in your statement did it imply you were kidding. So I will apolize for assuming the worse. However it does still (even with your explainations) that you have some issues. It is not the childrens fault if they are over indulged by the family. There are ways to work with that. I am excited that you and your daughter (I don't believe in the the words "step" or "in-law") are going to the princess tea. There is absolutely nothing wrong with teaching responsibilty---I am all for that. I raised 3 responsible sons (one is a fire fighter/paramedic, one is a preacher and one gave up a kidney to a friend.) Just a reminder that there are two parts to teaching responsibility: *teach by example (who is whining) and teach at their age level. I believe you are a great parent. I know I assumed the worse but with children it is better to err on the side of caution. Please accept my apoligy. Enjoy

 

[summerlandjeff]

I always bring a pair of cargo shorts, the ones with two extra pockets on the side that button or velcro closed. Usually they are the perfect size for an autograph book and pencil. I'm sure they have them for kids.

PS: I always tell my daughter "I may be evil, but I'm right"!